Work of Art - Erik leaves - Both Teams submit crap and Miles is an Art Pussy

Good Reality TV but Bad Art on this weeks "Work of Art" featuring Public Art




I was very disappointed by this weeks episode of "Work of Art", obviously the producers of the show feel they need to make the show more accessable to the rather dumb mean intelligence of the american viewing audience. Reality shows have always focused on the base elements of humanity and culture even if they are pretending to focus on a high art concept.


Team Challenge = Fail

The entire concept of a team challenge in a contest of art and creativity is foolish and counterproductive. As a viewer and an artist I dont want to witness the whitewash mediocre mean vision of 4 artists. The skills required for team production and interaction should not be confused and intermingled with the creative process. Foolish, Wrong, Fail from the very beginning.




The Public Art was uninspired

Both teams failed in this challenge. The winning team, Team A (RED) created some very ugly park benches. Their lifetime in a public arena would be very limited. Ive seen more beautiful skate parks. The judges comments about hideous 60's minimalist art were right on point and I could imagine the entire project being carried away and spray painted.

Team B was stronger. Their submission had substance and a true interactiveness, but on the downside the base structure lacked any aesthetic beauty, it look like a scaffold that should be soon removed. The hodge podge of crap that was tacked on on site had no attractive aspects either. Erik was right, a solid piece of sheet metal or a clean coat of spray paint would have been more intelligent decisions.

These artists were on the spot, hurried and had to work in a team environment so I make no judgments on any of their individual talents.


My thought process - nature in the city, permanent materials, a land of tall concrete bright animated sunflowers allowing the individual artist to put their touch on each...this changed to a large scale rendition of the iconic Super Mario flower inside of the pipe, bright colors, solid construction, interactive pipe if time allowed. I wonder how that would have played out.

Erik and Miles 

Erik Johnson  had me in stitches when he rightfully flipped out on his group referring to Miles as an "Art Pussy" who had built another "homeless shelter" It was obvious even in the final edited product that Miles is easily controlling his teammates to his vision and Erik wasnt having it!


If the concept had gone more towards the tree house/clubhouse aspect originally discussed combined with the organic vine elements they would have had an interesting creation, unfortunately they allowed for the input of the artist with wacky clothes ( I dont remember her name and have trouble believing in the eye of an artist who cant dress herself) and this vision changed.


As a very male artist familiar with the cliches of art school and the "art pussy" aspect of the art crowd, Im very much in support of Eriks complaints. Luckily, my Art school experience had me more in the role of a Miles..so I had no resentment about the weakness and closeminded self referential nature of my peers. But I certainly did not respect it. Miles has shown great ability with materials, showmanship and creating a complete and often complex final product. His works seems finished but so so boring, dreary and self referential, Miles definitely gets the points for being a "professional" and probably is a very smooth operator. Erik was more likely to create something truly great and inspired. A complete series of Miles work to date could do no more than help me sleep at night - perhaps thats his mission but its not one that I support.


To give Miles one Kudo - the apparently uncontrollable bleet where he put down Trongs(?) piece was also a gut splitter - another example of self referential, in joke art history inspired crap that has little to endear itself with a "normal" viewer.


I hope Erik is off to big things.


You can see Eriks works and follow his future endeavors on his Facebook fan page:
The Art of Erik Johnson
Eriks Newest project - Residual Scars


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Fine Art meets technology with custom iPad Skins

The world of high technology rarely has a concise connection with the art world, sure, design and packaging and artistic engineering, but not high art or painting. The gelaskin company has created opportunities for artists to change this by creating fine art based skins for all technology for many years now.

Above you will see a very recognizable piece by Monet and another work by Modern Graphic Artist, Frank Miller.

Although they have select modern and indie artists available in their online shop, any Professional artist can integrate Ipad Skins and other techy skins into their merchandise, Gelasksin allows you to create and print skins on demand featuring your own art! Now thats a draw and some great advertising for your art!

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February- NY Posted Jobs for Artists and Creatives

Todays posted jobs
School Administrator/Supervisor	New York>Rochester	2010-02-25 07:58:39	Apply now
Teacher	New York>New York	2010-02-25 07:44:59	Apply now
Arts Faculty	New York>New York	2010-02-25 07:38:07	Apply now
This Week Posted Jobs
Culinary Arts Training	New York>Brooklyn	2010-02-24 02:44:55	Apply now
Art Writer	New York>New York	2010-02-18 03:04:29	Apply now
Art Writer	New York>New York	2010-02-18 03:10:45	Apply now
Writer / Photographer	New York>Utica	2010-02-19 03:14:34	Apply now
Writer / Photographer	New York>Syracuse	2010-02-19 03:16:48	Apply now
Writer / Photographer	New York>Long Island	2010-02-19 03:21:25	Apply now
Culinary Arts Training	New York>Brooklyn	2010-02-22 12:07:55	Apply now
Art Director	New York>New York	2010-02-22 01:07:09	Apply now
Art Director	New York>New York	2010-02-22 02:01:17	Apply now
Art Director	New York>New York	2010-02-22 03:50:12	Apply now
Multicultural Arts Management Internship	New York>New York	2010-02-23 10:15:54	Apply now
Junior-Mid Level Interactive Art Director,	New York>New York	2010-02-23 10:28:32	Apply now
Jr Art Director	New York>New York	2010-02-23 10:39:24	Apply now

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How much should I sell my art for?

How much is your art worth?

How do you respond when a prospective buyer is interested in buying your art?

Do you pick some obscene number and never make any sales, do you undercut yourself and let your hard earned work slip away for much less than it cost you to make it?

What costs go into a work of art.

• material costs
• studio costs
• education costs
• overhead for storage
• marketing/gallery fees?

The almost impossible to quantify amount of what your talent is worth?

Do you keep these things in mind? The artist, Ben Zoltak, explains very well how to weigh these factors and bargain like a professional who know s there value

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Primed Canvas - How to Gesso your Canvas

How to Gesso a Canvas

Many artists start their careers working in specific mediums and progress throughout their career to other forms of expression, not all of us were lucky enough to take formal schooling in methods and preparation. Stretching and preparing your first canvas can be a daunting task. Failure to create and prepare correctly can seriously effect the longevity of your artwork.

The artist Ben Zoltak, explains very well why an artist should bother to learn the proper methods

Gesso is what holds your painting up to the grinding weather of time. Gesso is the foundation for your art, it's what makes the difference between an heirloom piece and a disposable piece of art.

Read his entire tutorial here:
How To Prepare A Painting With Gesso





















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